James T. Gibney died attempting to save Frank Balint from suffocation, Detroit, Michigan, July 25, 1932. Balint, 58, laborer, and another man were working in a sewer manhole 11 feet below ground in the yard of an industrial plant. As they stood in water two feet deep that was flowing at a rate of 5 m.p.h., they were affected by an unidentified gas. Balint’s companion climbed a ladder to the surface, but Balint became unconscious and sank to his knees. Gibney, 57, labor foreman, who had never worked in a sewer, descended the ladder, grasped Balint’s clothing at the neck, and tried to lift him to his feet. He was overcome and fell into the water but retained his hold of Balint. Another man then reached the bottom and attempted to aid Gibney, but Gibney released his hold of Balint and drifted in the current in the sewer. A rope was lowered to the man, and he tied the rope on Balint. While Balint was being pulled to the top, the man was overcome and drifted in the sewer. Later the man was rescued. Gibney drifted one mile through the sewer to its outlet, and his body was recovered the next day. 32309-2662
32309 – 2662
32309-2662